Before 2020, the restaurant and foodservice industry was considered one of the most successful businesses to get into. However, there have been massive changes in the industry over the past year, with the pandemic shutting down hundreds of businesses across the world.

As we adapt to the new normal, there are certain trends that we can safely expect to see in 2021, as time progresses. Here are some of them:

Unfortunately for the little guy, chains and franchises will continue to boom while smaller, more independent businesses will take a hit. These businesses have the advantage of scale, as they can manage to stay afloat despite the circumstances. This means you’ll see more businesses competing to bring in customers.

However, it’s not all grim for independent restaurants; they will have to adapt, upgrade, and get with the times to reinvent themselves. They will have to expand operations and outreach through delivery, takeaway, and focus on creating more diverse experiences and options.

It’s a tough change given the often specialized nature of small businesses, but it’s one that’s necessary to keep them going. In fact, a lot of establishments are also placing a COVID surcharge, which has risky implications for them.